Carroll



Jan. 21, 1964 J. H. CARROLL TENSIONLESS WEB CONTROL FOR MULTIPLE ROLLDEVICES Filed NOV. 20, 1962 Fig.1.

8 e L 6 I.) /4 M 4 4 H n l w 6 6 HH IIH llIIlIl JNVENTOR. JOHN H.CARROLL BY PM W ATTORNEYS 3,118,313 TENSION LESS WEB CONTROL FURMULTIPLE ROLL DEVICES John H. Carroll, 651 Trull Road, North Tewksbury,Mass. Filed Nov. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 238,841 3 Claims. (Cl. 74-23917)This invention relates to multi-roll devices for advancing a continuousweb through a zig-zag course for treatment and especially to suchdevices wherein the treatment may cause uneven tension on the stretchesof the web within the machine.

For example, in the field of drying textile webs, the web is usuallythreaded through a Vertical, or horizontal, assembly of staggered dryingrolls, or cans, the rolls being internally heated by steam to dry, andsometimes to shrink or stretch the fabric. The rolls may each have ashaft sprocket and be driven by a single endless chain in which casevariation in the surface speed of one or more individual rolls relativeto the other rolls is not practical without stopping the machine andreplacing one or more sprockets. Similarly, when V groove sheaves havebeen used on each roll driven by a single V belt variation in individualroll speed has not been easily accomplished without stopping the machineand replacing sheaves.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a multi-rollapparatus of the V groove pulley and V belt type, in which each sheaveof each roll can be individually adjusted as to pitch, while theapparatus is in motion so that precision settings can be made andmaintained and a uniform treatment of the web achieved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiroll apparatus withvariable pitch sheaves on each roll, so arranged that an operator canmanually grip and slow down the rotating mechanism without hurting hisfingers and then can adjust the pitch setting manually without the useof tools all while the apparatus is in motion.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved variable pitchV groove pulley means which permits control during motion but is of suchsimplicity and low cost as to permit its installation on each roll of amulti-roll drying, or similar, apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from theclaims, the description of the drawing and from the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a typical multiroll device, such asa dryer, constructed in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation, in half section, of theimproved motion control, variable pitch sheave of the invention.

As shown in the drawing, a typical multi-roll device 29, which may be adryer for fabric, paper or the like, includes the frame 21 upon whichbearings such as 22 are mounted for the shafts 23 of a plurality ofrolls, or cans, such as 24, 2'5 and 26. It will be understood that suchdevices are well known for the purpose of advancing a continuous web 27of fabric, through a Zigzag, circuitous course for treatment such asdrying and the rolls may be horizontally arranged as shown or may bevertically arranged as in a'calendar stack. Conventionally, the shafts23 are hollow, on the side not shown, and connected to a supply of steamor other treatment fluid.

The particular treatment forms no part of this invention except for thefact that often the web 27 is so treated in the machine that shrinkageor stretching may inadvertently or intentionally occur. In conventionalmachines, when it is desired to vary the speed of one United StatesPatent Patented Jan. 21, I954 or more rolls relative to the other rolls,it is either necessary to stop the machine and substitute parts, or acostly installation such as an individual motor, or drive, to each roll,is required to vary speed while the machine continues in motion.

To achieve the desired capability of inexpensive manual adjustment ofthe rolls, cans or cylinders and the tensionless control of the web 27,the apparatus of this invention includes a train of identical V groovesheaves, or pulleys, such as 28, 2% and 3%, each mounted on one of theshafts 23 for rotating the same and all aligned in the same plane on oneside of the machine 2?). A single, endless V belt 31 is trained aroundall of the V groove sheaves, in a zig-zag stretch 31 conforming to thestaggered lay-out of the rolls and conforming to the zig-zag course ofthe web 27 through the machine. The return stretch 33 of the belt 31 istrained around the V groove sheave 34 mounted on shaft 35 rotatable inbearings 36 and thence around idler sheaves 37 and 38, and around sheave86 of roll 4d.

The belt 31 rotates the sheaves, shafts and rolls by reason of suitablepower drive means such as the drive sprocket 39 fixed to shaft 35 or byany other well known means.

Variable pitch means .1 is provided on each of the V groove sheaves suchas 28, 29 and 3t} whereby the surface speed of any one, or all of therolls can be individually varied While the rolls are in motion, withoutthe use of tools and without causing injury to the hands of theoperator. Each V groove sheave such as 23 includes an element 42 fixedto the shaft 23 and a corresponding element 43 rotatable with the shaft23 but axially movable toward and away from element 42 by the thrustscrew 34. The hub 45 of axially movable element 43 is provided with arod, or pin, 6 passing through an axially elongated slot 47 in shaft 23and the element 42 is fixed to shaft 23 by the key 53 and set screw 4%whereby element 43 may be moved axially for the length of slot 47 whileboth elements rotate with the shaft.

Slot 47 thus constitutes a stop which establishes a predeterminedminimum pitch setting to prevent over extension of the sheave to thepoint where surface speed of the roll mi ht over stretch a fabric orexcessive tension might damage the bearings of the roll and shaft.Maximum pitch occurs, of course, when elements 42 and 43 meet eachother. The exterior races 56 and 51 of a pair of ball bearings 52 and 53are fixed within a recess 54- in the terminal end of each shaft 23 andthe interior races 55 and 56 are fixed to a cylindrical block, orsleeve, 57 having an axial bore 58 threadedly receiving the thrust screw44. A snap ring as is mounted in an annular groove 62 in shaft 23 tobear against a shoulder 63 in block 57, there being a cover disc 64closing the recess 54. The terminal end 65 of thrust screw 44 engagesthe rod 46 so that as thrust screw 44 is turned clockwise within theblock 57 the rod 46 and the movable element 43 are moved toward thefixed element 42 to increase the pitch of the sheave and there by slowthe surface speed of the roll. Turning the screw 44 counterclockwisepermits belt tension to decrease the pitch of the sheave by moving theelement 43 and rod 46 away from the fixed element and thereby decreasingpitch to increase surface speed of the roll.

The motion control mechanism 66 of means 41 includes the relativelylarge diameter manual adjusting knob 67 fixed to the terminal end 68 ofthrust screw 44 and having notches 69 therearound. When the rolls are inmotion, the blocks 57, thrust screw 44 and notched adjusting knob 67tend to rotate with the sheave such as 2%, because of frictiontransmitted by bearings 52 and 53. Any attempt to manually grasp theknob 67 might result in injury to the hand of the operator, be-

cause of the rough rim formed by the notches, or by other grip meanssuch as a knurled or angular surface. A handwheel 71, of substantiallygreater diameter than that of lamb 6'7, and having a smooth, easilygraspablc rim 72, is therefore mounted on an integral extension 73 ofblock '7, the extension 73 sing of reduced dieinctcr to form a shoulder7%. i locking knob '75 is threaded on thrust screw -34 between theadjusting knob 67 and the handwh el 5'1 to lock tne handwheel against toend of block 57 and to l t' nrust screw at any desired Locking knob '75has a knurled surface 76 and be apparent that while the roll is inmotion the handwhecl and locking knob will be fixed to the block 57 andthrust set ,w ,4 to frictionally rotate as a unit due to bcarinfriction.

The novel, ayially acjustable V groove sheaves such as 28, and arepreferably adjustable from a fourteen inch bitch diameter to a twelveinch pitch diameter thus allowing a tension control range of approx...atcly This expressed in inches of material of Web 27 to be dried onthe eight drying cylinders, such as 2 and 26, each being tvventydhreeinches in diameter is equal to approi' nalely eleven inches. This rangeof control can be accoris d between any two adjacent cylinders or can bedistrih ted between all of the cylinders. It can be used to stretch,maintain normal tension or relieve virtually all tension on the web 27.

The total lineal a ial movement of e ement 43 relative to element 42, tochange pitch from the maximum fourte n inches to the minimum twelveinches is about nine sixteenths inches.

In operation, when the web 27 is advancing along the zigzag coursethrough machine 21), the smooth rim 7?. of the large diameter, rotatinghandv/neel 71, of any sheave desired to be adiusted, is grasped andslowed by one hand of the operator to permit the other hand to back oil?the locking knob '75. Still grasping the handwheel 71, the operator thenturns the adiusting knob 67 clockwise or counter clockwise to increaseor decrease the itch diameter of the sheave. Upon securing the desiredsetting the locking knob 75 is then tightened against the handwhcel '71to hold the setting and the unit then released to continue its rotation.It is possible to entirely unthrcad the thrust screw 44 and remove itfrom the unit without disturbing the minimum pitch setting.

To avoid over-closing the sheave by excessive pressure on the adjustingknob 67, which might damage the bearings 52 and '53, the proper pressurecan be determined by grasping the rim 72 of handwheel 71 to feel therotary tension in the hand. if the tension felt is greater than thatwhen the sheave was being adjusted,

excessive pressure is indicated and the locking knob 75 should be backedoff slightly to relieve the pressure.

Automatic slack take-up means is provided in the form of a commerciallyavailable pneumatic belt tightener $1, operable on the V groove sheave38. Means maintains a constant tension on the belt 31 and au tomaticallytakes up slack caused by the adjustment 0E any one, or all of theindividual variable pitch sheaves such as 22, 25- or 3% all in a wellknown manner.

I claim: 1. In a machine having a plurality of rolls for advancing acontinuous web in a zig-zag course to treat said web the combination of:

a train of single v groove drive sheaves, aligned along one side of saidmachine, each mounted on a shaft of one of said rolls for rotating thesame;

a single, endless V belt, trained around all of said sheaves in saidz'g-zag course and seated in the single V groove of each said sheave forrotating the same;

variable pitch means on each said single V groove sheave forindividually varying the speed thereof while in motion, said meansincluding a thrust screw terminating in a rough rimmed adjusting knobfor manual adjustment of the pitch of said sheave and a smooth rimmed,enlarged, handwhecl axially spaced inwardly from, and rotatable with,said knob for manually slowing the rotary motion of said knob;

autom ic, slack take-up means, including an idler V groove sheave insaid train of sheaves, for maintaining but tension when any one of thevariable itch means of said V groove drive sheaves is adjusted inmotion, and

power means connected to said train for powering the drive belt thereof.

2. A combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said variable pitchmeans includesa knurled locking knob, threaded on said thrust screwbetween said adjusting knob and sai hsndwheel for locking said means ata desired setting.

3. A combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said variable pitchmeans includes a stop for establishing a minimum pitch setting toprevent such stretching of said web as might cause damage to thebearings of said rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,662,654 Abbott Mar. 13, 1923 2,219,856 Ncston Oct. 29, 1940 2,703,936McClelland Mar. 15, 1955

1. IN A MACHINE HAVING A PLURALITY OF ROLLS FOR ADVANCING A CONTINUOUSWEB IN A ZIG-ZAG COURSE TO TREAT SAID WEB THE COMBINATION OF: A TRAIN OFSINGLE V GROOVE DRIVE SHEAVES, ALIGNED ALONG ONE SIDE OF SAID MACHINE,EACH MOUNTED ON A SHAFT OF ONE OF SAID ROLLS FOR ROTATING THE SAME; ASINGLE, ENDLESS V BELT, TRAINED AROUND ALL OF SAID SHEAVES IN SAIDZIG-ZAG COURSE AND SEATED IN THE SINGLE V GROOVE OF EACH SAID SHEAVE FORROTATING THE SAME; VARIABLE PITCH MEANS ON EACH SAID SINGLE V GROOVESHEAVE FOR INDIVIDUALLY VARYING THE SPEED THEREOF WHILE IN MOTION, SAIDMEANS INCLUDING A THRUST SCREW TERMINATING IN A ROUGH RIMMED ADJUSTINGKNOB FOR MANUAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE PITCH OF SAID SHEAVE AND A SMOOTHRIMMED, ENLARGED, HANDWHEEL AXIALLY SPACED INWARDLY FROM, AND ROTATABLEWITH, SAID KNOB FOR MANUALLY SLOWING THE ROTARY MOTION OF SAID KNOB;AUTOMATIC, SLACK TAKE-UP MEANS, INCLUDING AN IDLER V GROOVE SHEAVE INSAID TRAIN OF SHEAVES, FOR MAINTAINING BELT TENSION WHEN ANY ONE OF THEVARIABLE PITCH MEANS OF SAID V GROOVE DRIVE SHEAVES IS ADJUSTED INMOTION, AND POWER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TRAIN FOR POWERING THE DRIVEBELT THEREOF.